Rate and Determinants of Recurrence at 1 Year and 5 Years After Stroke in a Low-Income Population in Rural China

Healthcare self-management support of stroke patients after discharge: A conceptual analysis using Rodger's evolutionary approach

AIM(S)

To explore the meaning of healthcare self-management support for post-discharged stroke patients.

METHOD

Rodgers' evolutionary approach was used to identify antecedents, attributes, related terms, surrogate terms and consequences.

DATA SOURCE

Literature from 2012 to 2022 was searched from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Three antecedents preceded healthcare self-management support for post-discharged stroke patients: loss of inpatient support, preparedness for self-management and presence of self-management support. Healthcare self-management support for post-discharged stroke patients was defined by eight attributes: pre-discharge assessment and planning; provision of continuous education and training; collaborative goal-setting; reinforcement and documentation of vital information; coordination of post-discharge care; provision of rehabilitation support and promoting community reintegration; provision of counselling support; and using clear communication, patient empowerment and promoting self-efficacy. The identified consequences of the concept were as follows: improved patient outcomes; improved life quality; decreased healthcare cost; decreased re-admission rate and inpatient care burden; and decreased complication rate.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare self-management support for post-discharged stroke patients is an emerging concept that can help to significantly improve stroke patients' health outcomes and life quality. However, its applicability is uncertain considering the workload, time and resources available to healthcare professionals. There is a need for future studies to focus on the feasibility and applicability of this concept in clinical practice and to identify any challenges healthcare providers may have in supporting stroke patients after discharge.

IMPACT

This concept analysis brings clarity to the concept of healthcare self-management support of post-discharged stroke patients and distinguishes it from other self-management supports. It provides an opportunity for further studies and a pathway for generalized healthcare self-management support for stroke patients after discharge to improve health outcomes and quality of life.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patients, service users, caregivers or members of the public were involved in conducting this concept analysis.

Association of intracranial large artery disease with long-term prognosis after ischaemic stroke

INTRODUCTION

Intracranial large artery disease (ICLAD) is a common cause of ischaemic stroke and is associated with the risk of recurrent vascular events in the short term. We compared the incidence of various long-term vascular outcomes between ischaemic stroke patients with and without ICLAD.

METHODS

This was a longitudinal observational study of acute ischaemic stroke patients who were followed up serially for recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction or vascular death up to a median of 86 months. Transcranial colour-coded Doppler was used in the diagnosis of ICLAD.

RESULTS

Among the 581 ischaemic stroke patients studied (median age 63 ± 11 years, male 71%), 354 (60.9%) had ICLAD. In regression analyses adjusting for covariates, patients with ICLAD were more likely to have long-term composite vascular outcomes (hazard ratio [HR] 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.03, P = 0.041), myocardial infarction (HR 2.89, 95% CI 1.71-4.91, P < 0.001) and vascular death (HR 3.52, 95% CI 1.67-7.52, P = 0.001) but not recurrent stroke (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.72-1.70, P = 0.652), at a median of 86 months as compared to patients without ICLAD.

CONCLUSION

Our findings of poor prognostic impact of ICLAD on long-term recurrent vascular events after ischaemic stroke provide evidence for the need of specific, emphasised screening and secondary prevention, especially for coronary artery disease in this high-risk group.

Variations in Risk Factors across Different Periods of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Recurrence

INTRODUCTION

Accurately discerning periods of heightened risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) recurrence and managing modifiable risk factors are essential for minimizing overall recurrence risk. This study identified differences in the timing of stroke or TIA recurrence based on risk factors and patient characteristics to develop strategies for reducing recurrence in clinical practice.

METHODS

We retrospectively selected patients with ischemic stroke or TIA at the Korea University Ansan Hospital Stroke Center between March 2014 and December 2021 using the prospective institutional database of the Korea University Stroke Registry. We collected demographic, clinical data, and categorized participants by recurrence timing (early within or late after 3 months). Using multinomial logistic regression analysis, we examined variables associated with early and late recurrent stroke or TIAs.

RESULTS

Among 3,646 patients, 255 experienced a recurrent stroke or TIA and 3,391 experienced their first stroke or TIA. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between early recurrent stroke or TIA and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR]: 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-3.15), other determined etiologies in the Trial of Org 10172 in the Acute Stroke Treatment classification (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.37-6.61), and white matter changes (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.17-3.33). Late recurrence showed a significant correlation with TIA (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.52-5.71) and cerebral microbleeds (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.32-3.75).

CONCLUSION

Substantial differences in factors contribute to stroke or TIA recurrence based on timing. Managing the risk of recurrence in clinical practice necessitates accurate identification of heightened risk periods and rigorous control of modifiable risk factors.

Association Between Lifestyle Behaviors and Obesity Among Stroke Survivors

AIM

The aim was to investigate factors influencing obesity among stroke survivors based on demographics and lifestyle behaviors.

BACKGROUND

Stroke survivors are more likely to experience stroke recurrence within a few years. As obesity is a traditional risk factor for stroke, obesity should be managed in stroke survivors to prevent stroke recurrence.

METHODS

A cross-sectional secondary data analysis analyzed data from the 2017 United States Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Demographics, frequency of vegetable and fruit intake, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep were examined.

RESULTS

Among 1032 stroke survivors, 57.8% were obese. Advanced age, female sex, veteran status, at least once-daily fruit intake, current smoking, and lack of physical activity were associated with obesity.

CONCLUSION

Stroke survivors should be encouraged to pursue healthy behaviors to manage obesity. Appropriate transitional care, including diet education and tailored exercise, can be an effective strategy.

Efficacy and safety of Shenmai injection for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Ischemic stroke is a serious and sudden cerebrovascular condition that significantly affects individual's health and imposes a substantial economic burden on medical management. Despite its widespread use in China, there is still a lack of reliable evidence regarding the efficacy of Shenmai injection (SMI) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to comprehensively assess the effectiveness and safety of SMI in treating AIS through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Randomized controlled studies (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of SMI in treating AIS were searched for in eight databases from the inception of each database till January 2024. We utilized the ROB 2.0 to assess the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4, while sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments were conducted using Stata 16.1.

Results

A total of 17 studies involving 1,603 AIS patients were included in our meta-analysis. Our results showed that SMI plus conventional treatments (CTs) was more effective than CTs alone in improving the total effective rate (RR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.30, p < 0.00001), the Barthel index (BI) (MD 12.18, 95% CI: 10.30 to 14.06, p < 0.00001), and reducing the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Score (NIHSS) score (MD -3.05, 95% CI: 3.85 to -2.24, p < 0.00001) and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) (MD -0.68, 95% CI: 0.86 to-0.49, p < 0.00001). In addition, SMI combination therapy was better than CTs alone in decreasing the levels of IL-6, IL-18, and hs-CRP. SMI therapy also enhanced the cerebral hemorheology of patients by reducing levels of fibrinogen and plasma viscosity. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events, including elevated transaminase, rash, nausea, bleeding, urticaria, headache, vomiting, chest tightness, and facial flushes. Moreover, no serious adverse effects or life-threatening events were reported.

Conclusion

Our study shows that combining SMI with CTs effectively enhances the neurological function of patients with acute cerebral infarction. However, our findings should be interpreted considering the significant heterogeneity and suboptimal quality of the analyzed trials.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024504675, Identifier PROSPERO, CRD42024504675.

Clinical characteristics of heavy alcohol consumption in young and middle-aged acute cerebral infarction: A 12-month follow-up study

Objective

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of heavy alcohol consumption among young and middle-aged patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Methods

A total of 263 young and middle-aged ACI patients were included in the study from June 2018 to December 2020 and classified into heavy drinkers and non-heavy drinkers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between ACI and heavy alcohol consumption, considering clinical characteristics and one-year post-discharge prognosis.

Results

Among the patients, 78 were heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers were more likely to consume alcohol 24 h before ACI onset (OR 4.03, 95 % CI 2.26-7.20), especially in the form of liquor (OR 3.83, 95 % CI 1.59-9.20), and had a higher risk of diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg upon admission (OR 2.02, 95 % CI 1.12-3.64). In the one-year post-discharge prognosis, heavy drinkers had a greater likelihood of poor prognosis at 3 months (OR 2.31, 95 % CI 1.01-5.25), were less likely to quit drinking after discharge (OR 0.36, 95 % CI 0.19-0.66), and had a higher risk of recurrent cerebral infarction (OR 2.79, 95 % CI 1.14-6.84).

Conclusions

Over the 12-month follow-up, young and middle-aged ACI patients with heavy alcohol consumption exhibited worse short-term prognosis. Controlling alcohol consumption levels may improve the prognosis of these patients.

Stroke Recurrence Rate and Risk Factors Among Stroke Survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Purpose

Evidence supporting secondary stroke in sub-Saharan Africa is scarce. This study describes the incidence of stroke recurrence and associated risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods and Materials

Scientific databases were systematically searched from January 2000 to December 2022 for population-based observational studies, case-control or cohort studies of recurrent stroke involving adults aged 18 years and above in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We assessed the quality of the eligible studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist for observational studies.

Results

Six studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Stroke recurrence rates in SSA ranged from 9.4% to 25%. Majority of the studies were conducted from Western Africa and showed that stroke recurrence rates are high within sub-Saharan Africa ranging from 2% to 25%. The known stroke risk factors such as hypertension, chronic alcohol consumption, etc., remained the leading causes of stroke recurrence. The studies reported a higher mortality rate ranging from 20.5 -23% among those with recurrent strokes compared to primary strokes.

Conclusion

This systematic review is an update and summary of the available literature on stroke recurrence within sub-Saharan Africa. Further studies are warranted to assess the outcomes and burden of stroke recurrence in SSA.

The factors associated with the deterioration of activities of daily life in stroke patients: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The activities of daily life (ADL) of stroke patients generally improves after rehabilitation. However, some patients remain at risk of ADL deterioration in the future. So far, there have been few studies on the factors related to ADL deterioration in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the factors related to ADL deterioration in stroke patients with independent mobility after discharge.

METHODS

We assessed 336 stroke patients with independent mobility who were discharged from the rehabilitation center between January 2016 and December 2018. The primary outcome was ADL deterioration, defined as that ADL assessed at 2 years after discharge decreased more than 15 points compared with that assessed at discharge. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to screen for factors related to ADL deterioration.

RESULTS

Overall, 62 (18.4%) patients exhibited ADL deterioration at 2 years after discharge.Age (OR = 1.114, 95%CI = 1.045-1.188, p = 0.001), vascular risk factors>3 (OR = 3.269, 95%CI = 1.189-8.986, p = 0.022) and with post-stroke depression (OR = 2.486, 95%CI = 1.011-6.114, p = 0.047) were risk factors for ADL deterioration in stroke patients. In contrast, elevated Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores at discharge was a protective factor for ADL deterioration (OR = 0.484, 95%CI = 0.386-0.606, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 1 in 5 stroke patients with independent mobility experienced ADL deterioration at 2 years after discharge. Aging, vascular risk factors>3, BBS at discharge, and post-stroke depression (PSD) were identified as factors associated with ADL deterioration.

Effectiveness of a Health Education Program for Patients Who Had a Stroke and Their Caregivers by Controlling Modifiable Risk Factors to Reduce Stroke Recurrence in a Tertiary Hospital in Bangladesh: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a significant public health concern that causes severe and long-lasting disability. The recurrence of stroke is increasing due to lack of patients' knowledge and compliance with treatment to control modifiable risk factors and lifestyle changes. Health education can be an effective way to increase knowledge about behavioral changes in patients who had a stroke.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a health education program in Bangladesh for patients who had their first stroke and their family caregivers in order to reduce the recurrence of stroke by controlling modifiable risk factors.

METHODS

This is a parallel, open-label, prospective randomized controlled trial conducted at the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We enrolled ≥18-year-old patients of both sexes who had a history of first stroke attack (transient ischemic attack, hemorrhagic stroke, lacunar stroke, atherothrombotic stroke, or cardioembolic stroke). We stratified patients into those aged <65 years and those aged ≥65 years and according to types of strokes for randomization. Our estimated sample size was 432. The intervention group receives face-to-face counseling on lifestyle modifications, blood pressure monitoring, and medication compliance-related health education during enrollment and monthly follow-ups. However, the control group receives only usual care from the hospital. The primary end point of this study is the reduction in the stroke recurrence rates at the end of the 12-month follow-up period. The secondary end points are to (1) assess the occurrence of all adverse events such as other cardiac events and all-cause mortality, (2) evaluate the status of the controlling modifiable risk factors such as blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, (3) assess the knowledge related to stroke by using the investigator-developed questionnaire, (4) evaluate the lifestyle behavior related to stroke by using the investigator-developed questionnaire, (5) assess medication adherence, and (6) evaluate the quality of life of patients who had a stroke and their family caregivers. The evaluation points will be at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months for both groups.

RESULTS

Patients' enrollment started on October 2022, and follow-up will be completed in March 2024. A total of 432 participants were included in both the intervention (n=216) and control groups (n=216). This study was approved by the institutional review board and the ethics review board of the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital (IRB/NINSH/2022/151) on August 30, 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

Our health education program is expected to reduce the recurrence of stroke and improve the quality of life of patients who have had the first stroke. The results of this study will provide insights into the importance of health education for (self)-management and prevention of stroke.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05520034; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05520034.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/51178.

The effect of educational level on the recurrence rate and number of episodes of stroke in stroke survivors

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the influence of educational level on the recurrence rate and number of stroke episodes in stroke survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, information regarding patient characteristics, medical history, ability to perform activities of daily living, level of disability, number of episodes, and stroke recurrence was collected. Analyses were conducted using the chi-square test, analysis of variance, nonparametric test, Cox regression model, and the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Of the 696 stroke survivors enrolled in this study, the average stroke recurrence rate was 20.83 %, and the recurrence rates in patients with primary (or lower), secondary, and university (or higher) education were 26.58, 19.54 and 14.29 %, respectively. Patients with primary (or lower) or secondary education had a higher risk for stroke recurrence than those with a university education or higher. We found that the recurrence rate 10 years after an initial stroke was higher than that after 5 years. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference in the cumulative recurrence rate among the three groups (χ2 = 9.36, P < 0.05). Lastly, the proportions of the number of stroke episodes differed between the various education level groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A lower educational level was shown to be a risk factor for stroke recurrence and education levels have an impact on the number of stroke episodes. Our results suggest that is necessary to strengthen post-stroke management and rehabilitation interventions for patients with low educational levels.

The Predictive Value of Essen and SPI-II on the Risk of 5-Year Recurrence in Chinese Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background

The risk prediction score for stroke recurrence is an important tool for stratifying patients based on the risk of cerebrovascular events and selecting potential preventive treatments.

Objective

The study aimed to validate the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS) and Stroke Prognosis Instrument II (SPI-II) for predicting long-term risk of stroke recurrence and combined vascular events in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

A total of 876 consecutive patients with non-atrial fibrillation AIS were recruited. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of stroke recurrence and combined vascular events in different subgroups stratified by the ESRS and SPI-II scores. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the predictive value of the two scores for stroke recurrence and combined vascular events.

Results

The KM estimate for 5-year cumulative incidence of stroke recurrence and combined vascular events was 28.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.4-32.0) and 35.6% (95% CI, 32.3-38.9), respectively, in Chinese AIS patients. The risk of stroke recurrence and combined vascular events were increased significantly with increasing ESRS and SPI-II scores. The ESRS and SPI-II scores had similar predictive accuracy for stroke recurrence (AUC 0.57 [95% CI 0.52-0.64] vs 0.59 [95% CI 0.55-0.64]) and combined vascular events (AUC 0.59 [95% CI 0.55-0.63] vs 0.62 [95% CI 0.58-0.66]) at 5 years.

Conclusion

In Chinese patients with AIS, both ESRS and SPI-II scores were able to stratify the risk of 5-year recurrent stroke and combined vascular events. The predictive power of the two scores were modest and a prediction model suitable for Chinese IS populations is needed.

Utilizing Social Determinants of Health Model to Understand Barriers to Medication Adherence in Patients with Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Ischemic strokes and their recurrence create an immense disease burden globally. Therefore, preventing recurrent strokes by promoting medication adherence is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. In addition, understanding the barriers to medication adherence related to the social determinants of health (SDoH) could promote equity among persons with ischemic stroke.

Objective

To explore the barriers to medication adherence among patients with ischemic stroke through the SDoH.

Methods

This systematic review included studies published between January 2018 and December 2022 identified through PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus Full Text. The descriptions of the studies were systematically summarized and discussed based on the SDoH from the US Healthy People 2030 initiative.

Results

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The most common barrier to adherence was inappropriate medication beliefs, medication side effects, and patient-physician relationship, which relate to the dimensions of healthcare access and quality. Health literacy and health perception, dependent on education access and quality, frequently influenced adherence. Other social determinants, such as financial strain and social and community context, were found to alter adherence behaviors. No study addressed the neighborhood and built environment domain. We found that cognitive impairment is another factor that impacts adherence outcomes among stroke patients.

Conclusion

Multifaceted approaches are needed to address the SDoH to improve medication adherence among patients with ischemic stroke. This review emphasized strategies, including patient education, provider-patient communication, social support, health literacy, technology, and policy advocacy to enhance adherence.

A Spatial Variation Analysis of In-Hospital Stroke Mortality Based on Integrated Pre-Hospital and Hospital Data in Mashhad, Iran

BACKGROUND

Despite significant advances in the quality and delivery of specialized stroke care, there still persist remarkable spatial variations in emergency medical services (EMS) transport delays, stroke incidence, and its outcomes. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the possible geographical variations of in-hospital stroke mortality and to identify its associated factors.

METHODS

This historical cohort study included suspected stroke cases transferred to Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad by the EMS from March 2018 to March 2019. Using emergency mission IDs, the pre-hospital emergency data were integrated with the patient medical records in the hospital. We used the Bayesian approach for estimating the model parameters.

RESULTS

Out of 301 patients (142 (47.2%) females vs. 159 (52.8%) males) with a final diagnosis of stroke, 61 (20.3%) cases had in-hospital mortality. Results from Bayesian spatial log-logistic proportional odds (PO) model showed that age (PO=1.07), access rate to EMS (PO=0.78), arrival time (evening shift vs. day shift, PO=0.09), and sequelae variables (PO=9.20) had a significant association with the odds of in-hospital stroke mortality (P<0.05). Furthermore, the odds of in-hospital stroke mortality were higher in central urban areas compared to suburban areas.

CONCLUSION

Marked regional variations were found in the odds of in-hospital stroke mortality in Mashhad. There was a direct association between age and odds of in-hospital stroke mortality. Hence, the prognosis of in-hospital stroke mortality could be improved by better control of hypertension, prevention of the occurrence of sequelae, increasing the access rate to EMS, and optimizing shift work schedule.

Lifestyle, clinical, and occupational risk factors of recurrent stroke among the working-age group: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Stroke recurrence is increasing in the working-age population. This study aimed to summarize and evaluate the risk factors for recurrent stroke among the working-age population.

Methods

Relevant studies were extracted from several databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Fixed- or random-effects estimates of the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of risk factors for recurrent stroke were generated based on heterogeneity. Subgroup and publication bias analyses were also performed.

Results

Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled effects results revealed that the risk of recurrent stroke in the working-age group was as follows: Diabetes (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.32), hypertension (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.44), smoking (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.81), history of cardiac disease (OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 2.22, 3.67), history of stroke (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.81, 3.31), and National Institutes of Health stroke severity score (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.15).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that several factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, smoking, history of cardiac disease and stroke, and severity of a stroke, are potential risk factors for recurrent stroke in the working-age group. Therefore, strategies to reduce those risk factors should be adopted and attention paid to prevent recurrent stroke among working-age populations.

Long-Term Outcomes after Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Single Center Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to be a significant risk factor for poor prognosis after stroke. In this study, we compared differences in long-term outcomes after ischemic stroke among patients with AF and sinus rhythm (SR). We identified patients admitted to the reference Neurology Center between 1 January 2013 and 30 April 2015, inclusive, with acute ischemic stroke. Of the 1959 surviving patients, 892 were enrolled and followed for five years or until death. We analyzed the risk of stroke recurrence and death between patients with AF and SR at 1, 3, and 5 years after stroke. The rates of death and stroke recurrence were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression. During follow-up, 17.8% of patients died and 14.6% had recurrent stroke. The mortality in the AF group increased relative to the SR group with subsequent years. The risk of death was statistically higher in the AF than SR group at 1 year after stroke (13.5 vs. 7%, p = 0.004). After adjusting for age, stroke severity, and comorbidities, there was also no significant effect of AF on mortality in the first year after stroke (OR = 1.59, p = 0.247). There were no significant differences between the groups in stroke recurrence during follow-up. The results of our study showed that post-stroke patients with AF have a more severe prognosis, although AF itself does not have an independent negative effect on long-term outcomes after stroke. Long-term survival after stroke in patients with AF was strongly associated with age, stroke severity, and heart failure. The impact of other factors on prognosis after stroke in patients with AF should be considered.

Perception of recurrent risk versus objective measured risk of ischemic stroke in first-ever stroke patients from a rural area in China: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Risk perception is critical to the formation of individual health prevention behaviors. A long-term accurate perception of stroke recurrent risks is imperative for stroke secondary prevention. This study aims to explore the level of recurrence risk perceptions and the influential factors of inaccuracy between perceived and objective risk in first-ever ischemic stroke patients from a rural area.

METHODS

From May to November 2020, 284 first-ever ischemic stroke patients were conveniently recruited in a rural area of Henan Province, China. Perceived risk was measured based on self-reported using a numerical rating scale, whereas the objective risk was measured by the Essen Stroke Risk Score. Patients' perceived risk was compared with their objective risk and categorized as "Accurate," "Underestimated," and "Overestimated." The influencing factors of inaccuracy were further evaluated using multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

46% of the participants underestimated their stroke risk, while 15.9% overestimated their risks. Patients who were younger (≤65 years), didn't worry about recurrent stroke, and had a low actual recurrent risk were more likely to underestimate their recurrent risk. Patients who were employed, had lower independence, and had greater anxiety were more likely to overestimate their recurrent risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of participants were unable to accurately perceive their own risk of stroke recurrence. Patients' age, working status, worry about recurrent stroke, actual recurrent risk, level of dependence, and anxiety played a role in perception inaccuracy.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The findings could help healthcare providers gain a better understanding of the level and accuracy of recurrence risk perceptions among first-ever stroke patients in the rural area. Future counseling on the perceived risk of stroke recurrence and individual objective risk assessment could be conducted to help patients better understand their risk of recurrence. Individualized risk communication and multidisciplinary teamwork can be developed to improve the accuracy of recurrence risk perceptions and health behaviors.

One-year recurrence of stroke and death in Lebanese survivors of first-ever stroke: Time-to-Event analysis

BACKGROUND

To date, despite the application of secondary prevention worldwide, first-ever stroke survivors remain at imminent risk of stroke recurrence and death in the short and long term. The present study aimed to assess the cumulative risk rates and identify baseline differences and stroke characteristics of Lebanese survivors.

METHODS

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted among survivors ≥18 years old who were followed-up for 15 months through a face-to-face interview. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative rates of stroke mortality and recurrence. Cox-regression univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the predictors of both outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 150 subjects (mean age 74 ± 12 years; 58.7% men vs. 44.3% women; 95.3% with ischemic stroke vs. 4.3% with intracerebral hemorrhage), high cumulative risk rates of stroke recurrence (25%) and death (21%) were highlighted, especially in the acute phase. Survival rates were lesser in patients with stroke recurrence compared to those without recurrence (Log rank test p < 0.001). Older age was the main predictor for both outcomes (p < 0.02). Large artery atherosclerosis was predominant in patients with stroke recurrence and death compared to small vessel occlusion (p < 0.02). Higher mental component summary scores of quality of life were inversely associated with stroke recurrence (p < 0.01). Lebanese survivors exhibited the highest percentages of depression and anxiety; elevated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores were seen in those with stroke recurrence and those who died (≥80% with mean HADS scores ≥8). Lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores at the acute phase increased the risk of both outcomes by 10% (p < 0.03). Three out of 13 mortalities (23.1%) were presented with early epileptic seizures (p = 0.012). High educational level was the protective factor against stroke recurrence (p = 0.019). Administration of intravenous thrombolysis decreased the risk of both outcomes by 10% (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Higher rates of stroke recurrence and death were observed in the first year following a stroke in Lebanon. Various factors were identified as significant determinants. Thus, health care providers and officials in Lebanon can use these findings to implement effective preventive strategies to best address the management of these factors to reduce the stroke burden and improve the short and long-term prognosis of stroke survivors.

Recurrence prediction of Essen Stroke Risk and Stroke Prognostic Instrument-II scores in ischemic stroke: A study of 5-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the Essen Stroke Risk Score and the Stroke Prognostic Instrument II score on the long-term recurrence in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled and had completed ESRS and SPI-II scores. Patients were stratified according to the Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II score and were followed until stroke recurrence or composite endpoint event (stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death). We estimated stratified incidence rates and calculated the cumulative risks at 5 years using Kaplan-Meier estimates. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to compare the predictive ability of the Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II score.

RESULTS

A total of 578 patients completed the follow-up. The cumulative 5-year event rates were 32.3% (95% CI, 28.2% to 36.4%) for recurrent stroke and 37.9% (95% CI: 33.8%-42.0%) for composite endpoint event. The cumulative risk of all outcomes increased with increasing risk scores. AUC for ESRS and SPI-II risk scores were 0.613 (95% CI: 0.565-0.661) and 0.613 (95% CI: 0.564-0.662) for 5-year stroke recurrence respectively and correspondingly 0.622 (95% CI: 0.576-0.668) and 0.627 (95% CI: 0.581-0.674) for composite endpoint events.

CONCLUSION

In Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke, both Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II scores could equally stratify the risk of 5-year recurrent stroke and combined vascular events.

Thyroid Function Affects the Risk of Post-stroke Depression in Patients With Acute Lacunar Stroke

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether thyroid function profiles are associated with post-stroke depression (PSD) and evaluate the mediation effect of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) on the association of thyroid function profiles and PSD in patients with acute ischemic lacunar stroke.

Methods

In this study, 372 patients with confirmed acute ischemic lacunar stroke within 3 days of onset were consecutively recruited. Serum levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid antibodies were detected on admission. Lacunar infarcts, white matter lesions, cerebral microbleeds, and enlarged perivascular spaces were rated using validated scales. The severity of depression was scored with the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale in the hospital after a week of stroke onset. Multivariate regression was utilized to analyze the association of thyroid function profiles and PSD. Mediation analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of cSVD on the association of thyroid function profiles and PSD.

Results

A total of 87 (23.4%) participants were diagnosed with depression after stroke. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in patients with PSD than in those without PSD, while free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) were not significantly different between the two groups. After adjusting for potential confounders, serum TSH levels were positively associated with the risk of PSD (OR = 1.228; 95% CI: 1.053–1.431, p = 0.009). A similar association was also found between the total cSVD burden score and PSD (OR = 2.137; 95% CI: 1.634–2.793, p < 0.001). Further mediation analysis indicated that 26.37% of the association between TSH and PSD was mediated by cSVD.

Conclusions

Serum TSH levels on admission can probably predict depression after acute ischemic lacunar stroke.

Incident Stroke and Its Influencing Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and/or Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective

To understand the incidence of stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and/or hypertension (HTN), and provide a basis for the prevention of stroke in these patients.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed for adults with T2DM and/or HTN. The follow-up period was 1 year. The incidence and recurrence rate of stroke was calculated and a multivariate Cox proportional hazard was used to analyze influencing factors of stroke occurrence and recurrence in the follow-up of patients with T2DM and/or HTN.

Results

Of the 1,650 patients with T2DM and/or HTN, 1,213 patients had no history of stroke. After 1 year of follow-up, 147 new stroke cases occurred, and the incidence rate of stroke was 12.1%. Among the patients who had stroke history (413), there were 116 cases of stroke with a recurrence rate of 26.5%. Seven risk factors were independently associated with stroke occurrence among patients without stroke history, included smoking, abnormal total cholesterol abnormal low-density lipoprotein patients with comorbid T2DM with HTN, physical inactivity, carotid artery stenosis (CAS), and higher scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Higher scores of NHISS and CAS were independent risk factors for the recurrence of stroke among patients with stroke history.

Conclusions

Patients with T2DM and/or HTN have a higher rate of new stroke and recurrence after 1-year follow-up. Actively identifying the controllable risk factors, such as smoking and physical inactivity, will help reduce the risk of stroke and recurrence in patients with T2DM and HTN.

Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility profiling highlights distinct astrocyte signatures in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration

Tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) exhibit characteristic neuronal and glial inclusions of hyperphosphorylated Tau (pTau). Although the astrocytic pTau phenotype upon neuropathological examination is the most guiding feature in distinguishing both diseases, regulatory mechanisms controlling their transitions into disease-specific states are poorly understood to date. Here, we provide accessible chromatin data of more than 45,000 single nuclei isolated from the frontal cortex of PSP, CBD, and control individuals. We found a strong association of disease-relevant molecular changes with astrocytes and demonstrate that tauopathy-relevant genetic risk variants are tightly linked to astrocytic chromatin accessibility profiles in the brains of PSP and CBD patients. Unlike the established pathogenesis in the secondary tauopathy Alzheimer disease, microglial alterations were relatively sparse. Transcription factor (TF) motif enrichments in pseudotime as well as modeling of the astrocytic TF interplay suggested a common pTau signature for CBD and PSP that is reminiscent of an inflammatory immediate-early response. Nonetheless, machine learning models also predicted discriminatory features, and we observed marked differences in molecular entities related to protein homeostasis between both diseases. Predicted TF involvement was supported by immunofluorescence analyses in postmortem brain tissue for their highly correlated target genes. Collectively, our data expand the current knowledge on risk gene involvement (e.g., MAPT, MAPK8, and NFE2L2) and molecular pathways leading to the phenotypic changes associated with CBD and PSP.

The Implementation of a Primary Care-Based Integrated Mobile Health Intervention for Stroke Management in Rural China: Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation

Background: There is a lack of evidence concerning the effective implementation of strategies for stroke prevention and management, particularly in resource-limited settings. A primary-care-based integrated mobile health intervention (SINEMA intervention) has been implemented and evaluated via a 1-year-long cluster-randomized controlled trial. This study reports the findings from the trial implementation and process evaluation that investigate the implementation of the intervention and inform factors that may influence the wider implementation of the intervention in the future.

Methods: We developed an evaluation framework by employing both the RE-AIM framework and the MRC process evaluation framework to describe the implementation indicators, related enablers and barriers, and illustrate some potential impact pathways that may influence the effectiveness of the intervention in the trial. Quantitative data were collected from surveys and extracted from digital health monitoring systems. In addition, we conducted quarterly in-depth interviews with stakeholders in order to understand barriers and enablers of program implementation and effectiveness. Quantitative data analysis and thematic qualitative data analysis were applied, and the findings were synthesized based on the evaluation framework.

Results: The SINEMA intervention was successfully implemented in 25 rural villages, reached 637 patients with stroke in rural Northern China during the 12 months of the trial. Almost 90% of the participants received all follow-up visits per protocol, and about half of the participants received daily voice messages. The majority of the intervention components were adopted by village doctors with some adaptation made. The interaction between human-delivered and technology-enabled components reinforced the program implementation and effectiveness. However, characteristics of the participants, doctor-patient relationships, and the healthcare system context attributed to the variation of program implementation and effectiveness.

Conclusion: A comprehensive evaluation of program implementation demonstrates that the SINEMA program was well implemented in rural China. Findings from this research provide additional information for program adaptation, which shed light on the future program scale-up. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of combining RE-AIM and MRC process evaluation frameworks in process and implementation evaluation in trials.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03185858.

Dynamic Changes and Temporal Association with Ambient Temperatures: Nonlinear Analyses of Stroke Events from a National Health Insurance Database

BACKGROUND

The associations between ambient temperatures and stroke are still uncertain, although they have been widely studied. Furthermore, the impact of latitudes or climate zones on these associations is still controversial. The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of Taiwan and divides it into subtropical and tropical areas. Therefore, the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database can be used to study the influence of latitudes on the association between ambient temperature and stroke events.

METHODS

In this study, we retrieved daily stroke events from 2010 to 2015 in the New Taipei and Taipei Cities (the subtropical areas) and Kaohsiung City (the tropical area) from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Overall, 70,338 and 125,163 stroke events, including ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, in Kaohsiung City and the Taipei Area were retrieved from the database, respectively. We also collected daily mean temperatures from the Taipei and Kaohsiung weather stations during the same period. The data were decomposed by ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). There were consistent 6-period IMFs with intervals around 360 days in most decomposed data. Spearman's rank correlation test showed moderate-to-strong correlations between the relevant IMFs of daily temperatures and events of stroke in both areas, which were higher in the northern area compared with those in the southern area.

CONCLUSIONS

EEMD is a useful tool to demonstrate the regularity of stroke events and their associations with dynamic changes of the ambient temperature. Our results clearly demonstrate the temporal association between the ambient temperature and daily events of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. It will contribute to planning a healthcare system for stroke seasonally. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to elucidate the meaning of these associations.

Ischemic and Non-ischemic Stroke in Young Adults - A Look at Risk Factors and Outcome in a Developing Country

Objective Stroke among young adults is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Efforts are being taken to control stroke in the general population, but in parallel, there is an increasing trend of stroke among the young population. These patients are often affected by physical disability, cognitive impairment, and loss of productivity, all of which have personal, social, and economic implications. The main aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with stroke among young patients admitted to a tertiary care rehabilitation center and determine the effect of rehabilitation on the outcome of their daily life activities. Materials and Methods A retrospective hospital-based cohort study was conducted between January 2015 to December 2019. Prevalence of stroke-related risk factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiac disease was assessed. Results Out of 710 young stroke adults, 71.97% were described as ischemic, and 28.03% reported as non-ischemic. Mean age (SD) was found to be 44.54 ± 9.3. Univariate analysis demonstrated that hyperlipidemia, cardiac disease, and diabetes indicated a significantly higher risk for ischemic stroke with an OR (95% CI) at 2.5 (1.7-3.7), 2.11 (1.2-3.6), and 1.66 (1.2-2.3) respectively. A significant improvement was observed in their Functional Independence Measure (FIM0 score after their rehabilitation irrespective of age and gender. Conclusion Association of risk factors associated with stroke should be subjected to close follow-up and management, thus reducing the risk of developing long-lasting disabilities at a young age. The identification of risk factors for young stroke incidence is a step towards improving health in the young adult population.

Clinical characteristics and radiological domains among patients with recurrent strokes-a descriptive cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in central Nepal

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a significant global health hazard that ripples continuum multi-spectral effects to the patients as well their caretakers.   Methods: We studied 28 consecutive cohorts of patients with recurrent strokes managed in our centre within the last two years.  Results: The most common recurrence stroke pattern was of that of hemorrhagic to hemorrhagic subtype observed in 50% of the patients. The most common anatomical region of involvement was cortical - cortical seen in 39.28% of our cohorts. The surgical intervention was required in 17.85% whereas 42.85% of them were managed conservatively. Paradoxically, 39.28% of patients left against medical advice. The receiver operating curve (ROC) predicting mode of management was highest (area under the curve (AUC) =0.635) for compliance to therapy followed by stroke territory (AUC=0.578), age (AUC=0.457) and motor grading (AUC=0.374). The receiver operating curve (ROC) for influencing decision to leave against medical advice was highest (area under the curve (AUC) =0.861) for motor score followed by sex (AUC=0.701) and age (AUC=0.564). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) study pertaining to the mode of management was significantly connoted by the motor score and the stroke territory only. The ANOVA study pertaining to the decision to leave against medical advice was significantly governed by the motor score, stroke territory, and sex respectively. The multivariate analysis for variables governing mode of management was significant for motor score and the stroke territory only. The multivariate analysis for variables governing leave against medical advice was significant for sex, motor score and the stroke territory.  Conclusions: This study aims to appraise early dichotomization of high-risk patients for recurrent strokes to reduce the continuum of neurological events as well as to mitigate the financial aspects governing stroke care.

Nutritional Supplements and Neuroprotective Diets and Their Potential Clinical Significance in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

Nutrition and rehabilitation are crucial in post-stroke recovery, especially in the elderly. Since stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability, there is a need to promote special, individually tailored nutrition strategies targeting older patients with low motor ability. Chronic stroke survivors have higher risk of developing nutrition-related chronic diseases, such as sarcopenia, anemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. Moreover, reduced motor activity, cognitive impairment and depression might be aggravated by poor malnutrition status. Accumulated data suggest that nutritional supplements and neuroprotective diets can be associated with better effectiveness of post-stroke rehabilitation as well as brain recovery. Therefore, this review focuses on preventive strategies that can improve dietary intake and change dietary patterns. We highlight the importance of neuroprotective diets, the problem of dysphagia and the role of nutrition in rehabilitation. This article focuses on potential nutritional supplements and neuroprotective diets that may have an impact on functional recovery during and after rehabilitation. Moreover, a new approach to post-stroke neuroplasticity including the use of agents from marine sources such as fucoxanthin and tramiprosate as compounds that might be used as potential neuroprotectants with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties is introduced.

Recurrent Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke in Cameroon: A Case-Control Study

Introduction

Stroke recurrence accounts for a great percentage of catastrophic complications, yet no comprehensive study has analyzed the factors associated with stroke recurrence in Cameroon. We carried out this case-control study to better understand the factors associated with the stroke recurrence in Cameroon.

Methods

We collected sociodemographic, clinical, neuroimaging, laboratory, and therapeutic data of eligible patients who consulted the neurology and cardiology department of the Yaounde Central Hospital in Cameroon. We included all patients at least five years removed from their first stroke event who consulted the authors' institution as of January 15, 2019. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Fisher's exact tests were used. Also, a Cox regression model was used to identify confounders.

Results

We recruited 100 patients; seven out of ten patients had hypertension, while six out of 10 had a sedentary lifestyle. Half of the patients consumed alcohol regularly, while one patient out of five had diabetes. Most patients presented with their first stroke event, and a quarter had a stroke recurrence. Stroke recurrence was associated with right handedness (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.16–0.33), congestive heart failure (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.16–10.28), gout (OR = 4.34, 95% CI = 1.09–18.09), dysarthria (OR = 4.34, 95% CI = 1.30–14.54), and facial palsy (OR = 3.96, 95% CII = 1.49 – 10.51), as well as modifiable factors such as elevated abdominal circumference (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), blood glucose level (PI <I 0.01), LDL cholesterol (P < 0.01), and triglyceride levels (P < 0.01). The mulitvariable regression model only identified laterality (B = –1.48, P = 0.04) as a statistically significant explanatory varibale for stroke recurrence.

Conclusion

We mapped the landscape of recurrent strokes in Cameroon. There is a need to evaluate the causes of suboptimal drug adherence rates and both the role and adherence to nonpharmacologic interventions.

Serum Interleukin-37 Increases in Patients after Ischemic Stroke and Is Associated with Stroke Recurrence

Background

This study seeks to assess interleukin-37 (IL-37) serum level in acute ischemic stroke and the value of predicting 3-month stroke recurrence and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke.

Methods

From January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, all consecutive first-ever acute ischemic stroke patients from our hospital, China, were included. Serum samples, clinical information, and stroke severity (defined by the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score) were collected at baseline. Serum IL-37 level was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Functional impairment (defined by the modified Rankin scale (mRS)) and recurrent stroke were assessed 3 months after admission. The relation of IL-37 with either clinical severity at baseline, unfavorable functional outcome, or stroke recurrence at follow-up was evaluated by logistic regression analysis, and the results were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Three hundred and ten stroke patients were included. The median IL-37 serum level in those patients was 344.1 pg/ml (interquartile range (IQR), 284.4-405.3 vs. control cases: 122.3 pg/ml (IQR, 104.4-1444.0); P < 0.001). At 3 months, a total of 36 (11.6%) patients had a stroke recurrence. IL-37 serum levels in those patients were higher than in those patients without stroke recurrence (417.0 pg/ml (IQR, 359.3-436.1) vs. 333.3 pg/ml (279.0-391.0)). In a logistic model adjusted for other factors, IL-37 in the highest quartile (>405.3 pg/ml) was still associated with recurrent stroke (OR = 3.32; 95%CI = 2.03–6.13; P < 0.001). IL-37 could promote the NIHSS score (area under the curve (AUC) of the IL-37/NIHSS, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67–0.83; P < 0.001), corresponding to a difference of 0.085 (0.005). Serum IL-37 increases in patients with poor outcome, and an IL-37 in the highest quartile is related to poor outcome (OR = 4.85; 95%CI = 3.11 − 8.22; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Serum IL-37 increased in patients after ischemic stroke and was associated with stroke recurrence events and poor stroke outcomes. Large randomized controlled trials should be carried out to confirm whether IL-37 lowering treatment improves stroke prognosis.

Long-Term Morbidity and Mortality after First and Recurrent Cardiovascular Events in the ARTPER Cohort

Background: Cardiovascular events are a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The risk of recurrence after a first cardiovascular event has been documented in the international literature, although not as extensively in a Mediterranean population-based cohort with low cardiovascular risk. There is also ample, albeit contradictory, research on the recurrence of stroke and myocardial infarctions (MI) after a first event and the factors associated with such recurrence, including the role of pathological Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI). Methods: The Peripheral Arterial ARTPER study is aimed at deepening our knowledge of patient evolution after a first cardiovascular event in a Mediterranean population with low cardiovascular risk treated at a primary care centre. We study overall recurrence, cardiac and cerebral recurrence. We studied participants in the ARTPER prospective observational cohort, excluding patients without cardiovascular events or with unconfirmed events and patients who presented arterial calcification at baseline or who died. In total, we analyzed 520 people with at least one cardiovascular event, focusing on the presence and type of recurrence, the risk factors associated with recurrence and the behavior of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a predictor of risk. Results: Between 2006 and 2017, 46% of patients with a first cardiovascular event experienced a recurrence of some type; most recurrences fell within the same category as the first event. The risk of recurrence after an MI was greater than after a stroke. In our study, recurrence increased with age, the presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), diabetes and the use of antiplatelets. Diabetes mellitus was associated with all types of recurrence. Additionally, patients with an ABI < 0.9 presented more recurrences than those with an ABI ≥ 0.9. Conclusions: In short, following a cardiac event, recurrence usually takes the form of another cardiac event. However, after having a stroke, the chance of having another stroke or having a cardiac event is similar. Lastly, ABI < 0.9 may be considered a predictor of recurrence risk.

Association of alcohol consumption with prognosis of ischemic stroke by subtype in different follow-up periods: a hospital-based study in China

OBJECTIVES

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for stroke. However, there are no available data on the effect of alcohol consumption on the long-term outcome of ischemic stroke in China. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association of alcohol consumption with the prognosis of ischemic stroke by subtype in different follow-up periods after stroke.

METHODS

This 12-month follow-up study recruited 3830 acute ischemic stroke patients from Tianjin, China, between 2016 and 2018. Patients were categorized into two groups according to their consumption of alcohol. Differences in mortality, recurrence, and dependency rates at 3 and 12 months after stroke were compared between both groups.

RESULTS

The mortality, recurrence, and dependency rates at 12 months after stroke were significantly higher in patients who previously consumed alcohol than in those without previous alcohol consumption (all P < 0.005). A similar trend was observed for mortality rate at 3 months after stroke (P < 0.001). The risk of death at 3 months after an atherothrombotic stroke decreased by 63.4% (relative risk [RR], 0.366; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.144-0.935) among patients who previously consumed alcohol compared with those who never consumed alcohol. Moreover, for patients with small artery disease classified according to the Trial of ORG 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST), the recurrence and dependency rates at 12 months after stroke decreased by 49.2% (RR, 0.508; 95% CI, 0.259-0.996) and 49.5% (RR, 0.505; 95% CI, 0.258-0.990), respectively, among patients who consumed alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous alcohol consumption decreased the risk of death at 3 months after stroke among patients with atherothrombotic stroke according to the TOAST classification. Furthermore, for patients with small artery disease (according to TOAST classification), alcohol consumption significantly decreased the risk of recurrence and dependency at 12 months after stroke. This study highlights an urgent need to quantify the association of alcohol consumption with outcomes after stroke in China to improve stroke prognosis.